The Associated Press
BRUSSELS, Belgium (AP) -- Against a backdrop of European objections to tough U.S. aviation security measures, the head of Ireland’s Ryanair said Friday that putting armed guards on flights would make travel more dangerous.
“Putting armed air marshals on airplanes isn’t going to make an airplane more secure, it’s going to make it less secure,” said Ryanair CEO Michael O’ Leary in Brussels.
“The fewer guns there are, the safer the situation is.”
Last month, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that airlines would be required to place armed law enforcement officers on flights to the United States “where necessary.”
Ryanair does not have flights to the United States.
The Irish government, which holds the European Union presidency, said Wednesday it was organizing a meeting of EU aviation chiefs for Jan. 16 in Brussels to discuss the U.S. request.
Since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, many airlines have acceded to U.S. requests to install bulletproof cockpit doors on aircraft and share passenger lists with U.S. authorities.